Players Respect Lambert

[sonlyme]

It's not only current players www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/big-interview-aston-villa-legend-4803982

A good example this Peter Withe article.  To misquote Henry Fielding - there are only two ways of judging people - first is to go on what they say - the second is to go on what they do and how they behave - the wise tend toward the latter.

Peter Withe was struck not only by Lambert making the detour out to his peripheral table - but also by taking the time to sit and talk.  It is respectful behaviour - not PR puff.

I think this is reflected in Lambert's statements about his new coaches - which can be found here  http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3226060,00.html  and at various other news outlets.

Lambert said: "I worked with Michael and Chris at Norwich and I know exactly what we are getting - two good guys who put the work in. I trust them to do it.

"The two of them will bounce off each other with the rest of the staff.

"They are two good guys who will be good at their jobs.

"I knew Scotty from Wycombe. Scott helped the young ones at Wycombe.

"He has a really good way about him and really good mannerisms as well.

"He is a good coach and he will enhance the first team."

Lambert likes his team not only to talk the talk - but also walk the walk.  It is a mindset - a philosophy.  No room for egos - only for a team ethic aimed at team success based on personal responsibility to live clean and work hard and focus on self improvement.

The owners of Spearmint Rhino must be weeping.

While I am quietly cheering.

The last time we had honest hard work as a core principle of our team and our club I don't think it worked out too bad.  And we were seen as under dogs or dark horses then as well - when really we were Lions, rampant.



Bring on the new season.

[john e]

I wonder if this template works whether it will catch on with other clubs in the prem

I know its hyperthetical at the moment, but just say we have a really decent season finishing top 8 and playing some attractive football at the same time, with good runs in the cups

other teams who are spending millions they cant afford might well say, 'we can do that' and the whole footballing ethos turned on its head about how to be successful without buying success

of course on the other hand if we do badly the shit storm will be the same as last season

[sonlyme]

An insight into Lambert's way?

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-boss-paul-lambert-4876059

Lot's of talk about process, and journey, and steps.  These are the words of modern successful sports psychology.  You will occasionally catch snippets of them when stars in all fields get interviewed.  They make for bad press.  But they do reveal that Lambert is consciously creating a mindset at Villa.

I was taken by this line - “I’ve had a good chat with Randy and Paul about the philosophies we want to create here,” said Lambert

A way of being - of behaving - of performing - that's what Lambert is going to bring us.

Which makes it all the more heartening to hear that the behemoth that is Brad Guzan has extended his contract with us until 2016.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2357280/Brad-Guzan-signs-new-year-contract-Aston-Villa.html

Guzan says of his new deal...

"'This is just the start now, the start of hard work. We have to build on last year and go forward and that is very much the collective mindset at the club,'

No white Lamborghinis.  No celebrity WAG events.  No 24 carat diamond ear studs.  Welcome to Aston Villa FC.

[KevinGage]

Do 24 carat diamond ear studs, white Lamborghinis or celebrity WAG events normally get mentioned in those type of interviews? 

Both of those interviews are about par for what you'd expect from a player or manager at a club not expected to be in the hunt for honours, but for whom merely staying up is not success either. 

Note the deliberate omission of any talk of European qualification (nevermind Champions League), or a cup win or run.   There was a time when players joined (or re-signed) with that in mind.

But we're too big to go the Norwich, Wigwam or possibly even Stoke route of acclaiming 40 points/ 17th as acceptable, so what does that leave?

"We must work hard.   We must build on last year."   Safe, non committal stock phrases that just about any manager or a player at any club could utter, regardless of their finish last year. 

Manchester United won the league last year, but I'm sure they want to build on that. Wigan finally bit the dust, but they could easily go the route of talking about their positive end to the campaign and building on that. Working hard should be a given, at all clubs.

None of this is intended to knock some of the positive work PL has done to date, even if the jury is still out for me as regards his long term suitability to the job. If I was going the route of analysing and over analysing his quotes to build a case for him being a radical free thinker though, I'd probably avoid PR blurb given to the Birmingham Mail and the clubs official website.

[sonlyme]

If I was going the route of analysing and over analysing his quotes to build a case for him being a radical free thinker though, I'd probably avoid PR blurb given to the Birmingham Mail and the clubs official website.

And yet you take the time and trouble to analyse - and maybe even over analyse - this thread - how kind.
It is a comfort to know I could write anything on here and you would take the time and make the effort to tell me I'm wrong.

I think Lambert is under-taking a change of philosophy at Villa - and I think that it's a good thing - and I think that he is the right man to do it.  Hence the thread.

Please feel free to start a thread sharing your own perspective - if I recall correctly you were in favour of sacking Lambert for his failings regarding tactics and transfers.

There is a place for honest angry thoughts - it's called VT - but you know that don't you KevG?

You're not fickle - you just don't like me - and I get it - but it won't stop me talking about what I see as true or interesting.

On a brighter note - saw these figures regarding our new signing Brad G and thought I would share them.



Respect Bradley.

[Toronto Villa]

What I love about Brad is that he absolutely and genuinely loves being at Villa.

[KevinGage]

You don't like people disagreeing with you much, do you?  Or pointing out the weakness in your conclusions.

I could trawl the Birmingham Mail and the clubs official site and I'd bet there would still be upbeat interviews from players praising McLeish during his time at the club.  It's the game.  That's why I wouldn't place as much emphasis on it as you clearly do.

Out of interest, how did you get on at Villa Talk, last time you posted there?

[sonlyme]

Out of interest?  I was banned for disagreeing with all the negative unproductive whining during the Houllier year. Or should that be known as the year of five managers?

On topic - good stuff about Lambert doing his coaching badges in Germany in the BM.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-special-feature--5071940

and here

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-interview-mat-kendrick-5071871

Now this could of course all be set up - with words being put into people's mouths - but I choose to think that would be absurd.  I choose to think this shows what sort of bloke we have got as our manager.

This is what German uber coach Erich Rutemöller says of Lambert;

“He was really a fantastic guy. As a player he was fantastic because everybody in Dortmund liked him and when he said goodbye thousands of people cheered him, I remember.

“He showed the same attitude he had as a player as a coach. He was very disciplined, always on time, very interested in learning.”

Herr Lambert had no airs and graces and contributed to the course by sharing his knowledge with the rest of the group. But Rutemöller reckons the former midfielder’s personality is just as crucial as his playing experience when it comes to absorbing techniques and explaining them to his players.

“He knows a lot about football for sure as a professional player, but that’s not the most important thing in being a good coach,” he said.

“A good coach has to know how to transfer his own knowledge to players. He has to know how to teach."

Respect - a two way process.  It will be interesting to see how he handles the CB situation - because that has the potential to run into tricky ground.

[Dante Lavelli]

Thanks Sonlyme, I enjoyed reading those articles.  They certainly reflect well on Lambert and provide plenty of hope for the future.
I think with Lambert's eagerness to learn and improve and Randy's willingness to invest we could have a pretty perfect partnership. 

Like with Wenger at Arsenal, the whole club could grow as a result of Lamert's shrewedness.  Thankfully I can also see Randy backing him so Lambert should not out-grow the club too quickly.

[sonlyme]

Cheers Dante.

Lambert - Players - Respect.

I know this thread started out as a topic about how our players view our manager - and I think I started it because I believed that Lambert was up to something different at Villa - and the more I read and and hear about how Lambert is at Villa - the more I am convinced that he is putting in place a way of thinking, of behaving, of being, that is designed to bring success.

I appreciate some people may find this boring - so don't read it.

I appreciate some may disagree - fine - as long as you support your case with fact and example - it all adds value.

Then I saw this article about Jose Mourinho.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8778561/Jose-Mourinho-will-quickly-lay-down-the-law-at-Chelsea

It doesn't matter if you love him or hate him - you have to respect him.  A man who brought sport psychology into mainstream football.  Mourinho failed as a footballer.  He played 90 odd matches over a mediocre seven year career as a professional then decided to retire.  But he loved the game - and went to college to study Sports Science.  He worked as a PE teacher in schools for five years while still doing coaching courses.  Mourinho worked coaching kids before getting his famous break - he applied to be the interpreter for a new foreign coach he admired - Bobby Robson - the rest we know.


   
Jose, revered and still missed by half of Milan       


This is what failure at Madrid looks like                                             



Mourinho was interested in the complete person - not just the player.  He preached and coached a mindset - a way of thinking - a way of behaving - as well as a way of playing.  A new type of total football if you will.

And it struck me that the key elements of what he says in this interview are the same things that Lambert has hinted at.  Though Lambert is very tight mouthed when facing the press.  Much of what Lambert says sounds like cliché - or sounds really obvious - because it is.  And Lambert like Mourinho is aware that everything they say is important.  What they say determines the mindset.  Yet, in person Lambert is a different beast - charismatic - passionate - humorous - and has a clear vision of what makes top athletes, top.

Given our recent issues with a star player and Lambert and the club's reaction - it is interesting to see what Jose says.

"There is something I say whenever I go to a new club and I am going to say it again when I meet the players on July 8 - and some of the boys will have heard it before from me,"

"It is a sentence I always say on the first day: 'If you are a top professional, if you are not a selfish person, if you put the club in front of yourself and if you are here to work 100 per cent for me, for your fellow players and for the club, then we will have a wonderful relationship.

"If you are selfish, if you think about yourself and you don't care about the club, don't care about the image, if you don't care about the fans then we are in big trouble"


I can see Lambert agreeing with this - which makes the Christian Benteke situation all the more interesting as it strikes at the very heart of what Lambert is trying to create.

Mourinho has a view on what happens when you get one or two players who are in it for themselves and who refuse to join in with the team ethos.

"Sometimes you have a couple of guys that are not too keen to accept these kind of rules and this is where you have some problematic relationships, and the club in that moment either supports the problematic player or the manager.

"If the club supports the manager the two little guys - gone, easy."

We may mourn the loss of our talisman striker - but Lambert can find more talent - talent with the right character for the club - talent not controlled by dubious agents - and if he does then Villa will actually be stronger for having gone through this crisis.  Benteke may look like a big man - but he isn't - his behaviour has revealed him to be one of the little guys.

A club united in common belief - led by a manager fully supported by the board - nothing is more important than this.

"If the club supports the manager"?  says Jose.  At long last Villa will.  All of Villa. Boardroom to terrace. Easy.

[Chico Hamilton III]

But didn't Real Madrid fans hate Mourinho? They thought he was an arrogant, mouthy self publicist who lacked any class or moral compass? Probably why he feels so at home at Chelsea. And less photos of him on a Villa thread please.

[KevinGage]

Players Respect McLeish:

Buoyant Ireland looking to continue upward curve against Arsenal
Stephen Ireland looks ahead to Arsenal clash.
By Brian Doogan


http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2690549,00.html



Stephen Ireland is confident that his Villa career has taken a pivotal turn this season since facing Arsenal at Villa Park in the Barclays Premier League - and he is looking to continue this upswing tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium against Arsene Wenger's resurgent side.

The 25-year-old attacking midfield player was named Manchester City's player of the season in May 2009 before he arrived at Villa in the summer of 2010.

At the time he said he believed his years in the Midlands could be the best four years of his career.
Villa manager Alex McLeish has been so pleased with Ireland's contribution over recent games that he said to him: "The form you are in, you can play anywhere [on the pitch]."  And the Irishman is convinced that the Arsenal game in December was a watershed.

"The fans sang my name for the first time in that game against Arsenal and I was taken aback by it," he said.
"I was coming off and they gave me this great reception. To be honest, it really opened my eyes and I thought, 'Yeah, I can kick on from here. I have something to build on now.I think I've got a really good relationship with the fans. They've backed me.  They can see what I'm about and they can relate to that. I'm really grateful for their support. It's important for my game when they give me that kind of support. My objective now is to be the best I can be for these next 10 games we have between now and the end of the season, to help us climb the table and to keep entertaining the fans.

"Things are going brilliantly for me at the moment and that's a massive relief. I've been desperate to get going and get a consistent run for the last couple of seasons and now I've finally got it. I feel like I've earned it. I've been working really hard, training hard and putting the effort in. When I got my chances I've put 100% into my game, tried to express myself and work hard for the team. As much as I'm really pleased with that, I do think I've earned it. It makes it even more satisfying when you feel you've 'earned' your shirt.  The more games I'm playing, the fitter I feel and I'm starting to really enjoy it now. It feels my season only really started 10 games ago or so and I'm really enthusiastic to get going and finish the season as strong as I can. There are 10 games left and I want 10 good 90 minutes in those games. My confidence is high and I'm feeling really good. I've played in a number of positions - on the right, on the left and in the hole - and I'm just happy to play, no matter what position I'm in. But the more I stick to one position the more I can develop there and build up confidence there.

"I feel like the best is yet to come. The more goals and passes I get, also the more games, then the more consistent I'll be. I've been in and out of the team or playing different positions over the last 15 games but I'm really getting there now. I feel I'm really earning my shirt now and I want to get a shirt now and make it my own, so no one else can come in and take it."  Although the overall effort and performance levels have not always been reflected in results this season, Ireland is convinced that these, too, will swing in Villa's favour over the final quarter of the season.

"Everybody works hard here, the manager makes sure of that," he added.

"The manager is really good, he makes sure that the training is good and I look forward to coming into training every day.

"At the moment we're just getting robbed by late goals such as the goal we conceded at Blackburn a few weeks ago when we were unfortunate to draw the game at Ewood Park It's the little details of turning draws into wins and lifting the club and the fans again which we're trying to address and I'm sure we'll do that with all the effort we're putting into our preparation and also into the games. I'm very optimistic."

Stephen Ireland:  Looking to return to his own planet

Hutton: I already feel right at home in claret and blue
Alan Hutton relishing future in claret and blue.
By Paul Brown

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2462058,00.html


Alan Hutton heads to QPR today saying he already feels right at home in claret and blue - thanks to the affable atmosphere at Villa.
Hutton is relishing his future courtesy of the convivial character of boss Alex McLeish and the warmth shown to him by his new team-mates.

He said: "The boys have welcomed me in and the manager has been great.
"The lads in the back four have got lots of experience at club level and national level and they've helped me along so much.

"They're always talking to me and helping me. They have made it really easy to settle in.

"The manager has been brilliant too. He's been there, done it and got the t-shirt if you like.
"He was a fantastic footballer himself, so just that guidance will help. He's a strong character too.
"When I worked with him before and I was struggling or having a dip in form he would always encourage me.
"I think as a team you want a man who you can always go to and I think Alex is like that.
"I can see his influence growing. He's been like that wherever he has been. I don't see why here would be any difference.

"We've got a great squad and it's just about learning what he wants us to do and progressing as a team."
Hutton is keen for the team to bounce back after the Carling Cup exit to Bolton although he believes that defeat shouldn't be blown out of proportion.

As a "half full rather than half empty" guy, he thinks Villa have made a solid start to the current campaign and wants a continuation of that with a win this afternoon.
He added: "It's never nice when you get beat and going out of the cup is not great either because we wanted to do well in it.

"Having a game so quickly can be good because you can get right back into it.
"Other than the Carling Cup though, we've not lost a game so it's not too bad so far.
"I'm a half full guy. I want to take the positives from each game.
"Yes we've missed some chances and we could have ended up getting three points in some games.
"But we have to look forward and take that into today and hopefully get a win."

"Come back, Stevie!"

Collins loving life and eager to enjoy "best years" at Villa
James Collins on Villa future.
By Paul Brown

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2473684,00.html



James Collins is loving life at Villa and wants to enjoy the "best years" of his career in claret and blue.
Collins says he would happily extend his current deal because of his firm admiration for boss Alex McLeish and his affinity to the fans and the area.

He said: "I'd love to extend my contract here and stay at Villa as long as I can.
"As long as the manager is happy and the fans are then I'd like to stay here as long as possible.
"I've only just turned 28 so I think my best years are definitely still in front of me.
"I am not too bothered about how much I have left on my current deal. It's more about if I'm performing well and the club want to give me a new contract that would be great because I would love to stay as long as possible.
"I am enjoying my time here and enjoying playing under the current manager. Since I've been here everyone has been great.

"My family have settled in the area so if the opportunity was to come I'd love to sign another contract."
Collins may be enjoying donning the claret and blue but he's been in the wars for the cause over the past few weeks.

He revealed he broke his nose in the QPR game - and almost did the same with his foot late in the match.
But he praised the club's medical staff for patching him up in time to star against Wigan.
He added: "I have been in the wars a bit recently. Down at QPR I broke my nose during the game in the first half and then I thought I'd broken my foot late on in the game.

"Luckily it wasn't as serious as first thought. The foot was bad though and I couldn't train all last week so I thought I would be struggling for the game against Wigan.
"But I have to give credit to the doctor Ian McGuinness and the medical staff in that they got me able to play.
"Fortunately come Saturday morning I had a few painkillers and it was fine.

"As for the nose - it's big enough anyway so that didn't really matter!
"Sometimes it is a matter of managing yourself through because every game is tough in the Premier League.
"I've had injuries before and played games and it can be tough."

It's not only the players who feel this way:

Big Ron: McLeish on right track with unbeaten start
Former boss Ron Atkinson assesses Villa's start under Alex McLeish.

Exclusive by Dan Harrison

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2467672,00.html

Ron Atkinson has backed Alex McLeish's 'build from the back' approach and insists it is only a matter of time before Villa start to click as an attacking force.

Big Ron reckons McLeish was right to make restoring defensive solidity to the claret and blue ranks his top priority when he took charge in the summer.

While the flamboyant former Villa boss was a huge advocate of stylish attacking football throughout his illustrious management career, he still believes in the mantra that all great teams start with water-tight back line.
Villa have made an unbeaten start to the campaign under McLeish although five of their six games have been draws.

And Atkinson believes the former Rangers and Scotland chief has laid a strong foundation for a successful side.
"I always believe that the first column you look in to see how your season is going is the defeats," he said.
"Normally the most successful team is the team that loses the fewest.
"Villa have had more draws that any team in the Premier League.
"If they could just turn those draws in to wins all of a sudden your points really pile up.

"I think the year we finished second in 1992-93 we had a fair share of draws and when Deano came and paired up with Dalian we went off on a run.
"I love attacking, flowing football and although I didn't build defensive sides I tried to make sure we had good defenders who got paid to defend themselves.
"For a spell McGrath and Teale were as good as any centre-back pairing in the country then you had Ugo coming into the equation and Earl Barrett and Steve Staunton.

"Ryan Giggs always said Barrett was the best defender he ever played against."
Big Ron highlighted the return to form of Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock as the massive plus points of Villa's season so far.

But the 72-year-old says there is sufficient firepower in the squad to make Villa an attacking force - particularly when Darren Bent and Charles N'Zogbia hit top form.
"The two centre-backs had been a bit of a bedrock for Villa in the previous season or so and they've got good full-backs and a good goalkeeper," Atkinson added.

"That is a good base to start from. Alex has got the confidence of those players back and if you are going to be successful you have got to build from the back anyway.
"He looks as if he has got the defensive side of it sorted.

"What they have got to do now is take it on again maybe just become a little bit more of an attacking force.
"He's got good personnel there when you look at the likes of Bent and Agbonlahor.
"There's also N'Zogbia who is capable of being a fantasy player that maybe Villa have missed in the middle of the field."

There is no good reason to include this image at all:



But then why go against the spirit of this thread.








 

[eamonn]

Ireland, little Larry Lambs (Alan Mutton dressed as one) and two eejits in x-ray spex. What a horrorshow!

[LeeB]

Fuckin' sheepshaggers.

[Pete3206]

I'm sure there was a point to all that.